All posts for the day March 1st, 2011

Kevin Boyle – G – Westside Warriors (BCHL)
39 GP / 20-16-1 / 3.02 GAA / .902 sv%
Boyle’s Westside Warriors are currently down 2-1 to the Trail Smoke Eaters in the first round of the playoffs. Boyle has started all three games, giving up 5 and 4 goals in the two losses and only allowing 2 in their one win. He has a goals against of 3.66 and a save percentage of .881 in the playoffs. Though to be fair he could use some help from his special teams as the Smoke Eaters have scored 7 power play goals on 13 chances, including four of four opportunities in last night’s loss. Game 4 will be played tonight.

Zack LaRue – C/F – Markham Waxers (OPJHL)
50 GP / 33 G / 36 A / 69 Pts / 26 PIM
Unfortunately LaRue’s season has come to a close as his Waxers lost in the first round of the playoffs. He had a goal and four assists in five playoff games, including a game winner and a shorthanded goal.

Steve Mastalerz – G – Kimball Union Wildcats (NE Prep)
? GP / ?-?-? / ? GAA / ? sv%
As soon as I can find a site that has New England Prep stats that doesn’t cost $130 a year, I’ll do my best to update his stats. I do know the prep regular season is over and the playoffs start soon.

Shane Walsh -LW – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
34 GP / 6 G / 6 A / 12 Pts / 12 PIM
Walsh didn’t have any points on the weekend . His Saints still have the best record in the Western Conference.

I know I previously wrote that Joseph Manno committed to UMass for next fall. I did so after two different sources indicated that it was so. However since then I’ve yet to confirm it independently and am hearing maybe he committed and backed out or never committed in the first place. Either way I’m very sorry for reporting that he was coming if that ends up not being the case. While I stand behind my sources in this case as they both seemed solid, the last thing I want to do is spread incorrect information regarding the team.

As I wrote last year, the triangle jersey has become the UMass hockey fan’s rally cap, to be pulled on when things look dire and the team is in need of divine intervention. Despite the struggles of this year I’ve refrained from my calling of triangles. Sure I thought about it after Merrimack put up double digits on the team (something that didn’t even occur during the 90’s) or when they dropped the season series to Providence. But for the most part this team, despite their lack of wins, was surpassing expectations. Remember, they were picked to finish out of the playoffs, as low as last place in Hockey East by some around the league, but have spent most of the year sitting in 7th place. They’ve slipped a bit and find themselves in 8th now and some really bad things would have to happen both at home and around the league for them to miss the playoffs. But the chance is there and so it’s time to do our part to make sure UMass doesn’t miss the playoffs for the first time since 2001-02.

So get your hands on a triangle for this weekend’s games. Pull them out from the back of the closet. Pick them up from the dry cleaners. Buy one on eBay. Borrow from a friend. Hell, you can even try to take the triangle right off Craig MacDonald’s back if you can find him. But wear your triangles come this weekend. Let’s see if the tri-cornered magic can guide our Minutemen into the playoffs, to the Garden, and beyond!

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